İlkay Gündoğan transfer is ‘almost perfect’, down to the last details. [BILD]

Following on from yesterday’s stories from Germany that İlkay Gündoğan is on the verge of joining Manchester City, BILD tonight say ‘Bye-bye Gündoğan’ and report that a deal is practically done.

Only the last few details remain before an agreement is formally reached, with City set to pay Borussia Dortmund a fee of €23 million (£17.8 million) rising to a possible €26 million (£20.1 million) with bonuses. This looks to be a great deal for a player who at his best is one of Europe’s finest midfielders, even when you consider he is entering the last year of his contract.

Another reason for the lower fee is Gündoğan’s injury and there are very different stories on how long he will be out. BILD say the 25-year-old is out for five months, while the Telegraph yesterday appeared to have heard from City that the midfielder could be back as soon as late August – with six months out a worst case scenario.

Either way, he is a specific request of Pep Guardiola and there is almost no doubt now that İlkay Gündoğan will be a Manchester City player next season.